Combined gunwale step plate and boat ladder adapter



May 17, 1960 J, w, LD 2,936,465

COMBINED GUNWALE STEP PLATE BOAT LADDER ADAPTER Filed May 15, 1958 g 9 'JWAJa /Z'eZd INVENTOR BY 1 I ATTORNEYS UQ-itFE-d tems Patent z GUNWALE STEP PLATE AND BOAT COMB LADDER ADAPTER Johnny W. Mayfield, Del Paso Heights, Calif.

Application May 15, 1958, Serial No. 735,505 4 Claims. (Cl. 9-1) This invention relates to gunwale step plate construction, and is designed primarily for use on small cabin cruisers, outboard motors and other small craft, the primary object of the invention being to provide an exceptionally safe and steady support for mounting the conventional type ladder used by swimmers and skm divers to facilitate boarding the boat from the water.

An important object of the invention is to provide a step plate which may be securely mounted on a gunwale, eliminating the necessity of making extensive alterations in the gunwale construction to mount the step plate.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a gunwale step plate which is provided with openings for the reception of adapters which are so constructed that they may be readily positioned without the use of tools, the adapters affording means for removably securing the conventional boat ladder to the side of the boat.

With the foregoing and other objects in view wh ch will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the lnvention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of a gunwale step plate, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a gunwale 1S indicated generally by the reference character 5, the gunwale being provided with openings 6 through which the pipes 7 extend, the pipes 7 having their upper ends fitted 1n openings in the step plate 8, where they are welded.

These pipes 7 are formed with threads to receive the nuts 8, the pipes 7 being also disposed within openings of the plate 9 which is adapted to fit against the under surface of the gunwale and cooperate with the step plate 8 in securing the step plate 8' in position on the gunwale. 0

The step plate 8 is formed with a cut-out portion in which the rubber insert 9 is held.

The adapters 11', which are used in conjunction w th the step plate, embody pins 11 which are formed with circular enlargements 12 disposed intermediate the ends thereof, which circular enlargements provide stops to prevent the pins 11 from passing too far into the open ends of the pipes 7, as better shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing.

These pins 11 receive the side pipes 13 of the boat ladder, the pins passing into the ends of the upper curved sections 14 of the side pipes 13, securely supporting the boat ladder in position against accidental displacement.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a step ice plate designed for small cabin cruisers, outboard motors or the like, which is so constructed that adapters such as indicated at 11', may be readily and easily positioned within the open upper ends of the pipes 7 that extend through the step plate, so that the upper curved ends of the side pipes of a boat ladder may be readily dropped thereover with assurance that the boat ladder will be securely held in place, to permit swimmers, skin divers, or persons boarding the boat from the water to pass onto the boat readily.

It will of course be understood that when the ladder is not in use, the adapters will be removed and are only positioned when it is desirable to use an overhanging boat ladder as is convenient for swimmers or persons entering the boat from the water.

It will also be seen that due to the construction shown and described, a gunwale may be readily and easily conditioned for the application of the pipes 7 which secure the step plate in position on the gunwale.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A combined step plate and a boat ladder for use on gunwales of boats, said step plate having a large opening through its center and a small opening through each end, a rubber insert in said large opening of said step plate, said step plate and said rubber insert being on top of the gunwale of a boat, a second plate being located on the underside of said gunwale and having small openings through each end, said gunwale having an opening in line with the small openings in said step plate and said second plate, and a pipe passing through each of said small openings in said step plate, said gunwale and said plate, securing said step plate to said gunwale, and means for securing a boat ladder to said pipes.

2. A combined step plate and boat ladder for use on gunwales of a boat, said step plate having a large opening through its center and a small opening through each end thereof, a rubber insert in said large opening of said step plate, said step plate and said rubber insert being on the top of the gunwale of a boat, a second plate being located on the underside of said gunwale and having small openings through each end, said gunwale having an opening in line with the small openings in said step plate and said second plate, a threaded pipe passing through each of said small openings in said step plate, said gunwale and said second plate, a flanged adapter having a pin in the top of each said pipe, a nut threaded on the lower end of each said pipe, thereby securing said step plate and said second plate to said gunwale, and means for securing the boat ladder to said pipes.

3. A combined step plate and boat ladder for use on gunwales of boats, said step plate having a large opening through its center and a small opening through each end thereof, a rubber insert in said large opening of said step plate, said step plate and said rubber insert being on the top of the gunwale of a boat, a second plate being located on the underside of said gunwale and having small openings through each end, said gunwale having an opening in line with the small openings in said step plate and said second plate, a threaded pipe passing through each of said small openings in said step plate, said gunwale and said second plate, a flanged adapter having a pin in the top of each said pipe, a nut threaded on the lower end of each said pipe, thereby securing said step plate and said second plate to said gunwale, and side pipes of a boat ladder having curved upper portions removably secured to said adapter, thereby holding said ladder in position.

4. A combined step plate and boat ladder for use on gunwales of a boat, said step plate having a large rectangular opening containing a groove in the underside of each long edge thereof, small openings through each end of said step plate, a 'rectanuglar rubber insert in openings in said step plate, said gunwale and said second said rectangular opening in said step plate, said insert plate, securing said step plate to said gunwale, and means having flanges to fit in each of said grooves in said step for securing a boat ladder to said pipes.

plate said step plate and said rubber insert being on top I ofthe g'unwale of a' boat, a second plate being located 5 References Clted the file of thls Pataut on the unde'rs'ide or said gunwale and having small open- UNITED STATES PATENTS ings through each end, said gunwale having openings 1,684,613 Weller Sept 18 1929 line with the small openings in said step plate and said 1 255.7344 i11 Nomgi 5 second plate, a pipepassing through each of said small 2,669,733 Pick r Feb. 23, 1954 

